Prabowo launches B50 as milestone for energy self-sufficiency
Karawang (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto launched the 50 per cent Biodiesel Mandate Programme (B50) in Karawang Regency, West Java, on Thursday, as a step towards strengthening energy independence and reducing reliance on imported fuel.
“With the words bismillahirrahmanirrahim, on this day, Thursday 9 July 2026, by the grace of God Almighty, I, Prabowo Subianto, President of the Republic of Indonesia, hereby officially launch B50 biodiesel,” the President said.
The President said Indonesia had become the first country to implement the B50 mandate.
According to him, the policy is not merely a technological achievement, but proof of Indonesia’s ability to harness its natural wealth for the benefit of its people.
“This is proof that Indonesia is able to make use of its own natural resources to prioritise its own people. This is an important milestone for the nation’s independence,” the President affirmed.
He said the previous B40 implementation was not sufficient, which is why the government raised the biodiesel blend to B50.
“B40 was not enough; at the time I even pushed for B100. But my ministers convinced me that with B50 alone, we would no longer import diesel from abroad,” the President said.
The Head of State said energy is a sector vital to the nation’s survival.
Indonesia, he said, is endowed with abundant natural resources, ranging from coal reserves to natural gas.
In addition, Indonesia holds natural gas reserves that can be utilised as compressed natural gas (CNG). With such reserves, he said, Indonesia no longer needs to import LPG.
The President also urged scientists and experts to continue innovating to raise the biodiesel content above 50 per cent.
“B50 is a great achievement for the people,” he said.
The B50 Mandate Programme requires a 50 per cent biodiesel blend in diesel fuel. The policy forms part of the government’s efforts to reduce dependence on fuel imports, increase the added value of national natural resources, and strengthen energy resilience and sovereignty.
The implementation of B50 is expected to increase foreign exchange savings from Rp133.3 trillion under the B40 programme to around Rp170 trillion in 2026.
The programme is also projected to raise the added value of crude palm oil (CPO) from Rp20.92 trillion to approximately Rp23.49 trillion, absorb around 2.1 million workers, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to about 44.46 million tonnes of CO2 in 2026.
Attending the launch were several Red and White Cabinet ministers, including Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia, Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman, Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, President Director of Danantara BPI Rosan Roeslani, and President Director of PT Pertamina (Persero) Simon Aloysius Mantiri.